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<title>How Instructional Designers Can Improve Knowledge Retention</title>
<link>https://purnima-valiathan.com/how-instructional-designers-can-improve-knowledge-retention/</link>
<comments>https://purnima-valiathan.com/how-instructional-designers-can-improve-knowledge-retention/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Purnima Valiathan]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 15 Oct 2025 07:33:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Content Development Process]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://purnima-valiathan.com/?p=64178</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Invisible Enemy of Learning Every instructional designer has faced that haunting moment — a beautifully designed course, engaging visuals, …
The post <a href="https://purnima-valiathan.com/how-instructional-designers-can-improve-knowledge-retention/">How Instructional Designers Can Improve Knowledge Retention</a> appeared first on <a href="https://purnima-valiathan.com">ID Mentors</a>.
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2>The Invisible Enemy of Learning</h2>
Every instructional designer has faced that haunting moment — a beautifully designed course, engaging visuals, well-structured modules… yet, learners forget most of it within a few days. Instructional designers today are not merely creating courses; they are designing against forgetting. Understanding the science of memory and retention is no longer optional — it’s essential for impactful learning experiences.
Note: If you’re looking to improve the quality and results of your e-learning programs, we have created the <a href="https://purnima-valiathan.com/">best instructional design courses</a> going around. Do check them out.
<h3>Why We Forget What We Learn</h3>
Most often there is a sharp decline in memory retention soon after learning. If there is little or no reinforcement, memory decays exponentially over time.
Imagine teaching a new process to employees on Monday. By Wednesday, they might remember half of it. By next Monday, only fragments remain.
However, if we truly understand how memory behaves, we can design around it.
The two key variables that impact memory and retention are:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Retrieval: The more effort you make to retrieve information from memory, it sticks and strengthens neural connections.
</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Meaningful association: When learners connect new knowledge to prior experience and practical application, retention improves significantly. 
</li>
</ul>
Instructional designers can use this to create learning experiences that work with the brain, not against it.
<h3>Why Instructional Designers Must Care About Memory</h3>
In corporate learning, time is money. Every minute an employee spends in training must translate into measurable skill improvement or behavior change. Yet, traditional one-off training sessions rarely stick.
This is where the science of forgetting becomes your secret weapon. By designing for retention — not just delivery — you help organizations protect their training ROI and build learning cultures where knowledge endures.
<h3>1. Spaced Repetition: Timing is Everything</h3>
One of the most powerful antidotes to retention is spaced repetition.
Instead of cramming information in one session, learning is distributed over increasing intervals — a day, a week, a month. Each revisit strengthens memory recall and slows down forgetting.
<h4>How to apply it in your design:</h4>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Microlearning follow-ups: Send short, 2-minute refreshers after a main course — quizzes, flashcards, or scenario snippets.
</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Adaptive reminders: Use LMS notifications or email nudges to remind learners to review content.
</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Spiral learning structure: Revisit core concepts in later modules, each time adding new depth.
</li>
</ul>
Example: A sales training program could introduce product features in week 1, revisit key differentiators in week 3, and then apply them in role-play simulations by week 5. The spacing keeps the knowledge alive and relevant.
<h3>2. Retrieval Practice: Learning by Remembering</h3>
It’s not just reviewing content that helps — it’s actively recalling it. 
 When learners attempt to retrieve information from memory, they strengthen neural pathways, making future recall faster and more reliable.
<h4>How to apply it:</h4>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Design low-stakes quizzes that encourage recall without fear of failure.
</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Include scenario-based assessments that mimic real-world decisions.
</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Use “pre-tests” — short challenges before learning to prime recall and engagement.
</li>
</ul>
Example: In an onboarding course, instead of showing new employees policies first, start with a short quiz: “Which of these do you think is our company’s top priority?” Then let the course reveal the right answers. This retrieval exercise primes memory and curiosity.
<h3>3. Interleaved Learning: Mixing It Up</h3>
Traditional courses often teach one topic at a time. But research shows that mixing related topics — known as interleaving — can actually improve retention and transfer of learning.
By encouraging learners to compare and contrast concepts, interleaving builds deeper understanding and better recall.
<h4>How to apply it:</h4>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Alternate between theory and practice within a module.
</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Mix similar skills (e.g., communication, negotiation, and empathy) rather than teaching them in isolation.
</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Create comparative exercises (“How does A differ from B?”).
</li>
</ul>
Example: In a leadership course, alternate lessons between conflict resolution and feedback techniques. This interplay encourages learners to see patterns and distinctions — key to long-term memory.
<h3>4. Emotional Anchoring: The Brain Remembers What It Feels</h3>
Our brains are wired to remember emotional experiences far better than neutral ones. Instructional designers can use this principle to anchor learning emotionally, making it more memorable.
<h4>How to apply it:</h4>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Tell stories — real or simulated — that trigger empathy, curiosity, or surprise.
</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Use case studies that connect with learners’ day-to-day challenges.
</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Integrate visual metaphors that make abstract ideas feel concrete.
</li>
</ul>
Example: Instead of listing safety protocols, show a real-life story where following those protocols prevented a major accident. Emotion creates connection, and connection fuels retention.
<h3>5. Reinforcement Through Application</h3>
Knowledge sticks when it’s used. 
 Designers should ensure that every learning experience includes opportunities for practice, reflection, and feedback.
<h4>How to apply it:</h4>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Embed hands-on exercises and simulations.
</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Include reflection prompts after each module.
</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Encourage peer discussions or social learning groups where learners share how they applied their learning.
</li>
</ul>
 Example: A course on time management can end with a “7-day productivity challenge,” prompting learners to apply one strategy daily. This reinforcement bridges learning and habit formation.
<h3>6. AI and Adaptive Learning: Personalizing Retention</h3>
Modern instructional design can leverage AI-powered tools to make spaced learning personalized and data-driven. 
 AI systems can detect when a learner is likely to forget something and deliver a timely refresher — automating what used to be manual.
<h4>How to use it:</h4>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Use adaptive learning platforms that adjust quiz frequency based on learner performance.
</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Analyze engagement data to find where knowledge drops off.
</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Deploy chatbots or microlearning nudges to reinforce learning in the flow of work.
</li>
</ul>
Example: An AI-enabled LMS might notice that a learner consistently misses questions about compliance policy section 3. It can then serve a short refresher video or quiz targeting that topic specifically.
<h3>Key Takeaways</h3>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Forgetting what we learn is natural – it will happen.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Instructional designers can fight it through spaced repetition, retrieval practice, and emotional design.
</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Application and feedback close the loop, turning knowledge into sustained competence.
</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">AI and analytics now offer real-time tools to make reinforcement more personal and effective.
</li>
</ul>
Ultimately, designing for memory is designing for impact. 
 A course that’s remembered shapes behavior, performance, and results — long after the “course completed” badge fades away.
The post <a href="https://purnima-valiathan.com/how-instructional-designers-can-improve-knowledge-retention/">How Instructional Designers Can Improve Knowledge Retention</a> appeared first on <a href="https://purnima-valiathan.com">ID Mentors</a>.
]]></content:encoded>
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</item>
<item>
<title>Mastering Versatility in Instructional Design</title>
<link>https://purnima-valiathan.com/mastering-versatility-instructional-design/</link>
<comments>https://purnima-valiathan.com/mastering-versatility-instructional-design/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Purnima Valiathan]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Wed, 15 Oct 2025 05:14:55 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://purnima-valiathan.com/?p=64175</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Instructional design is often described as a blend of art and science. But in practice, it’s much more like juggling. …
The post <a href="https://purnima-valiathan.com/mastering-versatility-instructional-design/">Mastering Versatility in Instructional Design</a> appeared first on <a href="https://purnima-valiathan.com">ID Mentors</a>.
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[Instructional design is often described as a blend of art and science. But in practice, it’s much more like juggling. 
One moment, you’re analyzing a performance gap in an organization. Next, you’re sketching out a storyboard. By afternoon, you might be troubleshooting an LMS issue or figuring out how to make compliance training less painful.
At the heart of all this is versatility. 
The best instructional designers aren’t specialists in a narrow lane; they are professionals who can shift seamlessly between domains – education, psychology, technology, and communication. 
And it’s this ability to adapt that turns instructional design into a true superpower. As a leading <a href="https://purnima-valiathan.com/">platform for instructional design courses</a>, this is something we factor into our programs!
<h2>Why versatility matters: The Cognitive Science behind It</h2>
Human learning is complex. Cognitive psychology tells us that people learn through a mix of attention, memory, and motivation. But here’s the catch: no two learners are alike. Some thrive on visuals, others prefer hands-on practice, and some learn best by teaching others. Instructional designers must therefore be versatile enough to design for diverse cognitive pathways.
Think about Cognitive Load Theory. If you present too much information at once, learners experience overload and tune out. Versatility here means knowing when to use microlearning, when to embed practice opportunities, and when to cut back the noise. Similarly, research on motivation (like Deci & Ryan’s Self-Determination Theory) shows that autonomy, mastery, and purpose drive deeper learning. A versatile instructional designer knows how to weave these principles into every design. Sometimes subtly, sometimes overtly.
<h2>The translator’s role: From expert jargon to learner clarity</h2>
One of the least appreciated but most critical aspects of instructional design is acting as a translator. 
Subject matter experts often think in schemas – rich, interconnected webs of knowledge built over years. But learners are novices. Cognitive science warns us about the “expert blind spot,” where experts underestimate how difficult their knowledge is for beginners.
Versatility is what allows instructional designers to navigate this gap. You take abstract, complex material and chunk it into meaningful, digestible segments. You use analogies, examples, and scaffolding so that learners don’t drown in information but instead build new schemas of their own.
<h2>Technology as a canvas, not a crutch</h2>
These days, versatility also very much means being comfortable with technology – without becoming dependent on it. Authoring tools, LMS platforms, and AI-driven personalization engines are powerful, but they don’t guarantee good learning. The psychology of multimedia learning (Richard Mayer’s principles, for instance) reminds us that technology must be used to reduce extraneous load and increase germane processing.
A versatile instructional designer knows when and why to use which tools, and not just theoretically about the existence of different tools. Should this be an interactive simulation, or is a simple infographic enough? Does gamification enhance motivation here, or will it distract? 
Each decision requires balancing tech possibilities with psychological insights.
<h2>Creative problem-solving: The storytelling advantage</h2>
Neuroscience shows that humans are hardwired for stories. When information is presented in narrative form, it activates more areas of the brain than bullet points ever could. Instructional designers who embrace versatility tap into this by blending storytelling with structure, creativity with rigor.
For example, a compliance course might look boring on the surface. But frame it as a narrative – “What happens if you’re the manager faced with this decision?” – and suddenly you’ve turned passive learning into an active, emotionally engaging experience. 
Versatility is about being able to switch lenses: from dry technical manuals to human-centered storytelling that sticks.
<h2>Managing people, projects, and pressure</h2>
Finally, versatility isn’t just cognitive or creative – it’s brutally social. Instructional designers work with stakeholders across hierarchies: senior leaders, trainers, SMEs, and learners themselves. Each has different priorities. Psychology again plays a role here: understanding human behavior, negotiation dynamics, and even emotional intelligence helps you manage competing demands without losing sight of the learner.
And let’s not forget project management. 
Versatility here is about wearing both the designer’s hat and the manager’s hat. You need to track deliverables, respect deadlines, and keep teams aligned – all while ensuring your learning design doesn’t lose its heart.
<h2>Final thoughts</h2>
Instructional design is not a straight line. It’s a field where you move between cognitive science and creativity, psychology and technology, stakeholders and learners. To thrive, you need to master versatility as a genuine skill that lets you adapt, translate, and design with impact.
The world of learning is evolving fast, and those who can flex, pivot, and connect across disciplines will shape its future.
Curious to strengthen your own versatility as an instructional designer? Explore insights, resources, and toolkits at our website and discover how to take your skills to the next level.
The post <a href="https://purnima-valiathan.com/mastering-versatility-instructional-design/">Mastering Versatility in Instructional Design</a> appeared first on <a href="https://purnima-valiathan.com">ID Mentors</a>.
]]></content:encoded>
<wfw:commentRss>https://purnima-valiathan.com/mastering-versatility-instructional-design/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
</item>
<item>
<title>The Role of Instructional Designers in the Age of AI – Part 2</title>
<link>https://purnima-valiathan.com/the-role-of-instructional-designers-in-the-age-of-ai-part-2/</link>
<comments>https://purnima-valiathan.com/the-role-of-instructional-designers-in-the-age-of-ai-part-2/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Purnima Valiathan]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 18 Sep 2025 06:16:34 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://purnima-valiathan.com/?p=63902</guid>
<description><![CDATA[In Part 1 of this series we looked at how the instructional design landscape has evolved over the years, till …
The post <a href="https://purnima-valiathan.com/the-role-of-instructional-designers-in-the-age-of-ai-part-2/">The Role of Instructional Designers in the Age of AI – Part 2</a> appeared first on <a href="https://purnima-valiathan.com">ID Mentors</a>.
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[In Part 1 of this series we looked at how the instructional design landscape has evolved over the years, till the advent of AI in current times. We also looked at how the role of the instructional designer has changed, and the new competencies that are required now to use AI effectively. In Part 2 of this series we present the AI tools that can be used by instructional designers, and the new ways of learning that have emerged as a result of AI supported with examples and use cases.
<h3>Strategic Recommendations</h3>
What is the delta for IDs and learning leaders? Here are a few:
<ul>
<li>Upskill now: Gain working knowledge of generative AI, learning analytics, and ethical frameworks.</li>
<li>Experiment: Pilot AI tools in small, controlled learning design projects.</li>
<li>Stay human-centric: Use AI to enhance, not replace, empathy and pedagogical depth.</li>
<li>Build communities: Join networks of future-ready instructional designers to share best practices.</li>
</ul>
 
<h3>Toolbox of Emerging AI Tools for Instructional Designers</h3>
Note: This keeps changing everyday.
<img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="alignleft wp-image-63903" src="https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AI_Article_Table-1.png" alt="" width="786" height="373" srcset="https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AI_Article_Table-1.png 1025w, https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AI_Article_Table-1-460x219.png 460w, https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AI_Article_Table-1-150x71.png 150w, https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AI_Article_Table-1-768x365.png 768w, https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AI_Article_Table-1-300x143.png 300w, https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AI_Article_Table-1-120x57.png 120w, https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AI_Article_Table-1-310x147.png 310w" sizes="(max-width: 786px) 100vw, 786px" />
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
<hr class="divider clear" />
<h3>Use Cases for Collaboration Between AI And ID</h3>
Here are use cases for collaboration between AI and ID, grouped by design stage and learning need, to understand where the constructive collaboration truly happens:
<img decoding="async" class="alignleft wp-image-63905" src="https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AI_Article_-Table-2.png" alt="" width="786" height="332" srcset="https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AI_Article_-Table-2.png 1044w, https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AI_Article_-Table-2-460x194.png 460w, https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AI_Article_-Table-2-1024x433.png 1024w, https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AI_Article_-Table-2-150x63.png 150w, https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AI_Article_-Table-2-768x324.png 768w, https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AI_Article_-Table-2-300x127.png 300w, https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AI_Article_-Table-2-120x51.png 120w, https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AI_Article_-Table-2-310x131.png 310w" sizes="(max-width: 786px) 100vw, 786px" />
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
<hr class="divider clear" />
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<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft wp-image-63908" src="https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AI_Article_Table-5.png" alt="" width="786" height="326" srcset="https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AI_Article_Table-5.png 1061w, https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AI_Article_Table-5-460x191.png 460w, https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AI_Article_Table-5-1024x425.png 1024w, https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AI_Article_Table-5-150x62.png 150w, https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AI_Article_Table-5-768x318.png 768w, https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AI_Article_Table-5-300x124.png 300w, https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AI_Article_Table-5-120x50.png 120w, https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AI_Article_Table-5-310x129.png 310w" sizes="(max-width: 786px) 100vw, 786px" />
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft wp-image-63909" src="https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AI_Article_Table-6.png" alt="" width="786" height="261" srcset="https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AI_Article_Table-6.png 1091w, https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AI_Article_Table-6-460x153.png 460w, https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AI_Article_Table-6-1024x340.png 1024w, https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AI_Article_Table-6-150x50.png 150w, https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AI_Article_Table-6-768x255.png 768w, https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AI_Article_Table-6-300x100.png 300w, https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AI_Article_Table-6-120x40.png 120w, https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AI_Article_Table-6-310x103.png 310w" sizes="(max-width: 786px) 100vw, 786px" />
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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AI empowers Instructional Designers to:
<ul>
<li>Scale personalization</li>
<li>Save time on repetitive tasks</li>
<li>Harness rich learner data</li>
<li>Accelerate decision-making</li>
</ul>
While Instructional Designers bring:
<ul>
<li>Pedagogical grounding</li>
<li>Learner empathy</li>
<li>Contextual relevance</li>
<li>Ethical and inclusive design lenses</li>
</ul>
 
<h3>Scenario based use case examples</h3>
 
<div class="notification other" style="background-color:#e5d1e5;border-color:#97d8df;">
<div class="notepad" style="color:#000000;border-color:{{bordercolor}};"> Onboarding Employees in a Tech Company </div></div>
Scenario: A SaaS company hires 50 new software engineers across global offices. They need to be onboarded quickly on internal tools, company values, and security protocols.
Instructional Designer’s Role: Designs a blended onboarding journey with scenario-based modules, explainer videos, and compliance simulations.
AI’s Role: Tracks learners’ behavior and performance and dynamically adjusts learning paths. If someone excels in security basics, the AI skips or fast-tracks that section.
 
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<div class="notepad" style="color:#000000;border-color:{{bordercolor}};"> Upskilling Retail Staff via Mobile Learning </div></div>
Scenario: A large retail chain wants to upskill its in-store sales team on a new product line before launch.
Instructional Designer’s Role: Designs bite-sized microlearning content delivered via a mobile app, with videos, flashcards, and short scenario quizzes.
AI’s Role: Tracks performance and recommends additional content (e.g., customer objection handling) to individuals who score low on related scenarios. AI chatbot coaches are available for real-time role-play simulations.
 
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<div class="notepad" style="color:#000000;border-color:{{bordercolor}};"> Supporting At-Risk Students in Higher Education </div></div>
Scenario: A university identifies first-year students struggling with foundational math through low grades and quiz performance.
Instructional Designer’s Role: Creates a remediation module using real-world math scenarios (e.g., budgeting, cooking measurements) that encourage application.
AI’s Role: Predicts which students are at risk based on LMS interactions and sends nudges like: “Need help with percentages? Try this 3-min video.” The AI tutors provide just-in-time help via chat or voice.
 
<div class="notification other" style="background-color:#e5d1e5;border-color:#97d8df;">
<div class="notepad" style="color:#000000;border-color:{{bordercolor}};"> Medical Training for Emergency Response </div></div>
Scenario: A hospital trains emergency room nurses on a new triage protocol.
Instructional Designer’s Role: Designs simulation-based scenarios with patient avatars, branching decisions, and debrief reflections.
AI’s Role: Analyzes decisions made by learners, scores based on urgency and accuracy, and adjusts the difficulty of future cases. AI also provides immediate feedback with reasoning.
 
<div class="notification other" style="background-color:#e5d1e5;border-color:#97d8df;">
<div class="notepad" style="color:#000000;border-color:{{bordercolor}};"> Corporate Leadership Development Program </div></div>
Scenario: A multinational company runs a leadership program to groom mid-level managers.
Instructional Designer’s Role: Builds blended workshops with virtual coaching, case studies, and leadership reflection journals.
AI’s Role: Analyzes language used in journal entries to identify leadership strengths and gaps (e.g., lack of empathy or strategic thinking). AI chatbot simulates coaching conversations to practice soft skills.
 
These scenarios show how Instructional Designers provide the “learning brain” – understanding context, goals, and pedagogy, while AI serves as the “engine” scaling personalization, insights, and interactivity. Together, they enable, smarter learning, faster adaptation and stronger learner support
 
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
The future of instructional design lies not in competing with AI, but in collaborating with it. By integrating emerging technologies while staying grounded in the enduring principles of empathy, clarity, and equity, instructional designers can position themselves as leaders in the evolving learning landscape. To do so effectively, they must have a strong foundation in instructional design theories, frameworks, and methodologies. With this expertise, they can move beyond simply producing storyboards to delivering meaningful, strategic value in the learning experience.
 
<hr class="divider clear" />
Contributed By: Samyukhta Puligal
The post <a href="https://purnima-valiathan.com/the-role-of-instructional-designers-in-the-age-of-ai-part-2/">The Role of Instructional Designers in the Age of AI – Part 2</a> appeared first on <a href="https://purnima-valiathan.com">ID Mentors</a>.
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<item>
<title>The Role of Instructional Designers in the Age of AI – Part 1</title>
<link>https://purnima-valiathan.com/the-role-of-instructional-designers-in-the-age-of-ai-part-1/</link>
<comments>https://purnima-valiathan.com/the-role-of-instructional-designers-in-the-age-of-ai-part-1/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Purnima Valiathan]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 25 Aug 2025 05:37:21 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Knowledge Sharing]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Learning Trends]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[AI]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[artificial intelligence]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Instructional Design]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Instructional Designers]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[role of AI in instructional design]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://purnima-valiathan.com/?p=63603</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Executive Summary As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes deeply embedded in education and workplace learning ecosystems, the role of the instructional …
The post <a href="https://purnima-valiathan.com/the-role-of-instructional-designers-in-the-age-of-ai-part-1/">The Role of Instructional Designers in the Age of AI – Part 1</a> appeared first on <a href="https://purnima-valiathan.com">ID Mentors</a>.
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h3>Executive Summary</h3>
As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes deeply embedded in education and workplace learning ecosystems, the role of the instructional designer (ID) is undergoing a fundamental transformation. This whitepaper explores how AI is reshaping the ID profession—from automating routine tasks to enabling deeply personalized and adaptive learning—and anticipates how IDs can remain strategic architects of learning in the future.
<hr class="divider clear" />
<h3>The Evolving Landscape of Instructional Design</h3>
<div class="notification other" style="background-color:#e5d1e5;border-color:#97d8df;">
<div class="notepad" style="color:#000000;border-color:{{bordercolor}};">
“Technological revolutions are not new. We as a species have shaped and been shaped by technology, from the first intentional use of stone hand axes to artificial intelligence. There has been a relentless rhythm to this progress.” – Donald Cark
</div></div>
Clark also says, the AI technology, especially in learning, cannot be considered in terms of “fourth industrial revolution” but rather as a “cognitive revolution.” He calls AI “a product of pure psychological endeavour.” – So, this is exactly why, we as instructional designers, must consider AI in the complete trajectory of the evolution of instructional design. Because this shift is not just technological -it is epistemological. It changes how we think about knowledge, cognition, and learning itself.
From behaviourist roots to cognitive and constructivist theories, instructional design has always been shaped by how we understand the mind. Now, with AI embodying psychological models – from pattern recognition to adaptive learning—our role expands. We are no longer just creators of learning experiences, but curators of intelligent systems that can personalize, predict, and even participate in the learning process.
This means we must ground our designs not only in pedagogy but also in an awareness of how AI mimics, augments, and sometimes redefines human learning processes. We need to ask: How does AI align with or challenge our existing design paradigms? How do we ensure ethical, inclusive, and meaningful learning in an AI-augmented environment?
Traditionally, instructional designers have focused on designing learning experiences based on structured models such as ADDIE, Bloom’s Taxonomy, and Gagne’s Nine Events of Instruction. These frameworks offer predictability, process, and pedagogical rigor. However, the rise of AI tools now challenges IDs to think beyond templates and into dynamic, data-driven, and learner-centered ecosystems.
<hr class="divider clear" />
<h3>Evolution of Instructional Design</h3>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-63604" src="https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/AI-and-the-ID-Role.png" alt="" width="604" height="296" srcset="https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/AI-and-the-ID-Role.png 604w, https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/AI-and-the-ID-Role-460x225.png 460w, https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/AI-and-the-ID-Role-150x74.png 150w, https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/AI-and-the-ID-Role-300x147.png 300w, https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/AI-and-the-ID-Role-120x59.png 120w, https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/AI-and-the-ID-Role-310x152.png 310w" sizes="(max-width: 604px) 100vw, 604px" />
<hr class="divider clear" />
<h3>What AI has for Instructional Design?</h3>
AI introduces:
<ul>
<li>Automation of design and content creation (e.g., AI-generated quizzes, slide decks, voiceovers)</li>
<li>Data-informed personalization based on learner behavior</li>
<li>Smart analytics to measure learning outcomes and recommend improvements</li>
</ul>
<hr class="divider clear" />
<h3>Core Responsibilities: Then vs Now</h3>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-63605 alignleft" src="https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Table-1.png" alt="" width="786" height="297" srcset="https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Table-1.png 1051w, https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Table-1-460x174.png 460w, https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Table-1-1024x387.png 1024w, https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Table-1-150x57.png 150w, https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Table-1-768x290.png 768w, https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Table-1-300x113.png 300w, https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Table-1-120x45.png 120w, https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Table-1-310x117.png 310w" sizes="(max-width: 786px) 100vw, 786px" />
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
<hr class="divider clear" />
<h3>New Competencies for Instructional Designers</h3>
To stay relevant in an AI-powered landscape, instructional designers must build new skillsets:
<ul>
<li>Prompt engineering: Crafting effective prompts for generative AI tools</li>
<li>AI literacy: Understanding how algorithms make decisions and what data drives them</li>
<li>Learning analytics: Interpreting dashboards and behavioral insights</li>
<li>Ethical design: Addressing bias, fairness, and data privacy in AI-enhanced learning</li>
<li>Human-AI collaboration: Knowing when to delegate to AI and when to intervene as a human expert</li>
</ul>
<hr class="divider clear" />
<h3>Opportunities for Redefining Value</h3>
AI frees up instructional designers from repetitive, production-heavy tasks. This opens space for more strategic and creative contributions:
<ul>
<li>Acting as learning architects who design whole ecosystems, not just modules</li>
<li>Becoming performance consultants, aligning learning to business outcomes</li>
<li>Driving inclusive design with AI tools that adapt for neurodiversity and accessibility</li>
<li>Leading change management as organizations adopt AI in learning</li>
</ul>
<hr class="divider clear" />
<h3>Risks and Ethical Considerations</h3>
As AI becomes more powerful, IDs must navigate new challenges:
<ul>
<li>Loss of human touch: Over-reliance on AI may strip away empathy and nuance from learning experiences</li>
<li>Bias in AI models: AI can unintentionally reinforce stereotypes or exclude minority learners</li>
<li>Data privacy: IDs must understand how learner data is collected, stored, and used</li>
<li>De-skilling: If IDs rely too heavily on automation, core instructional design expertise may erode</li>
<li>Data Hallucinations: AI can hallucinate and provide false information. ID research and SME expertise is required</li>
</ul>
<hr class="divider clear" />
<h3>Future Scenarios: Instructional Design in The Near Future</h3>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-63606 alignleft" src="https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Table-2.png" alt="" width="787" height="291" srcset="https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Table-2.png 1041w, https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Table-2-460x170.png 460w, https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Table-2-1024x379.png 1024w, https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Table-2-150x55.png 150w, https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Table-2-768x284.png 768w, https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Table-2-300x111.png 300w, https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Table-2-120x44.png 120w, https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Table-2-310x115.png 310w" sizes="(max-width: 787px) 100vw, 787px" />
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
<hr class="divider clear" />
Contributed By: Samyukhta Puligal
The post <a href="https://purnima-valiathan.com/the-role-of-instructional-designers-in-the-age-of-ai-part-1/">The Role of Instructional Designers in the Age of AI – Part 1</a> appeared first on <a href="https://purnima-valiathan.com">ID Mentors</a>.
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<title>Top 5 Skills You Need to Become an Instructional Designer</title>
<link>https://purnima-valiathan.com/top-5-skills-you-need-to-become-an-instructional-designer/</link>
<comments>https://purnima-valiathan.com/top-5-skills-you-need-to-become-an-instructional-designer/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Purnima Valiathan]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Sat, 10 May 2025 04:26:23 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[High-Level Design]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://purnima-valiathan.com/?p=62931</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Instructional Designer’s Superpower? Versatility. Instructional design sits at the intersection of education, psychology, design, and technology. Whether you’re looking …
The post <a href="https://purnima-valiathan.com/top-5-skills-you-need-to-become-an-instructional-designer/">Top 5 Skills You Need to Become an Instructional Designer</a> appeared first on <a href="https://purnima-valiathan.com">ID Mentors</a>.
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[The Instructional Designer’s Superpower? Versatility.
Instructional design sits at the intersection of education, psychology, design, and technology. 
Whether you’re looking to become an ID in corporate L&D, higher ed, or the ed-tech space, these five skills will shape your success
<h2>1. Learning Design Thinking (Not Just Following Templates)</h2>
Good IDs don’t just follow models—they think like designers. That means: 
– Analyzing the learner’s real problem 
– Designing activities that match the learning need 
– Iterating based on feedback
<h2>2. Visual and Instructional Communication</h2>
IDs are storytellers at heart. You need to: 
– Break down complex concepts 
– Use layout, color, icons, and animations to guide attention 
– Create slides that teach, not just present
Learn it hands-on in platforms like ID Mentors, where you get feedback on your design logic.
<h2>3. Tech Comfort – Especially with Authoring Tools</h2>
Today’s IDs are expected to build: 
– Interactive eLearning (Articulate Storyline, Rise) 
– Video scripts and edits (Camtasia, Vyond) 
– PDFs, templates, quizzes, and micro-courses
Start with free trials or get guided practice in communities like ID Mentors.
<h2>4. Stakeholder Collaboration and Feedback Handling</h2>
Instructional designers often work with: 
– SMEs 
– Reviewers and approvers 
– Marketing or design teams
So, here are some qualities you need to succeed as an instruction designer: 
– Diplomacy 
– Clarity 
– Flexibility
Practice mock conversations and learn to manage expectations early.
<h2>5. A Growth Mindset and Curiosity</h2>
ID is an ever-evolving field. Stay curious: 
– Read books like “Design for How People Learn” by Julie Dirksen 
– Join ID groups and communities
<h2>Final Thoughts</h2>
These five skills—design thinking, communication, tech comfort, collaboration, and curiosity—form the core toolkit of an instructional designer. You can build them step-by-step—especially with support from a strong community and mentor.
Explore the ID Mentors Subscription Plan. It’s built to make you job-ready, not just course-complete.
The post <a href="https://purnima-valiathan.com/top-5-skills-you-need-to-become-an-instructional-designer/">Top 5 Skills You Need to Become an Instructional Designer</a> appeared first on <a href="https://purnima-valiathan.com">ID Mentors</a>.
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<title>How to Kickstart a Career in Instructional Design After Graduation</title>
<link>https://purnima-valiathan.com/kickstart-career-in-instructional-design-after-graduation/</link>
<comments>https://purnima-valiathan.com/kickstart-career-in-instructional-design-after-graduation/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Purnima Valiathan]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Sat, 10 May 2025 04:19:35 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Courses]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://purnima-valiathan.com/?p=62929</guid>
<description><![CDATA[So, You’ve Just Graduated… Now What? You’ve crossed the stage, diploma in hand. Maybe you majored in English, Psychology, Education, …
The post <a href="https://purnima-valiathan.com/kickstart-career-in-instructional-design-after-graduation/">How to Kickstart a Career in Instructional Design After Graduation</a> appeared first on <a href="https://purnima-valiathan.com">ID Mentors</a>.
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[So, You’ve Just Graduated… Now What?
You’ve crossed the stage, diploma in hand. Maybe you majored in English, Psychology, Education, or even Communication. And now, you’ve heard about this exciting, fast-growing field: Instructional Design (ID). It blends creativity, technology, and education—and better yet, it offers remote flexibility and competitive salaries. 
But here’s the catch: instructional design isn’t usually part of a standard college curriculum. 
So how do you break in?
<h2>Step 1 – Understand What Instructional Designers Actually Do</h2>
Before jumping in, take time to understand the job.Instructional designers aren’t just content writers. They design learning experiences.
From corporate training modules and onboarding programs to digital simulations and academic eLearning, IDs create effective, learner-centered materials. Their work is a mix of:
– Applying learning science and learning frameworks (cognitive load theory, Bloom’s Taxonomy, Gagné’s Events) 
– Writing for online learning and classroom training 
– Visualizing instructional material 
– Understanding learning technology (eLearning tools, LMS platforms) 
– Collaborating with subject matter experts (SMEs)
<h2>Step 2 – Choose a Solid Learning Path (Hint: Not All Courses Are Created Equal)</h2>
There are dozens of online courses that claim to teach instructional design, but many are outdated, overly theoretical, or leave you unprepared for real work. 
Look for a program that includes: 
– Hands-on projects (storyboards, design documents, approach notes, concept notes) 
– Mentorship or feedback 
– Interview and portfolio preparation 
– Access to community or job boards 
Highly recommended: ID Mentors by Purnima Valiathan. This program combines real-world scenarios, portfolio feedback, and continuous mentoring—a crucial difference from static online courses.
<h2>Step 3 – Start Building a Portfolio Early</h2>
Your portfolio is your golden ticket. Recruiters want to see what you can do. 
Include: 
– A storyboard sample 
– A microlearning module (use tools like Articulate Rise, Storyline, or Canva) 
– Case studies: show your problem-solving and design process 
Even if you haven’t worked for a company, create mock projects. Redesign a corporate policy into a microlearning lesson. Convert a lecture into an interactive module.
<h2>Step 4 – Learn the Tools of the Trade</h2>
Familiarity with these tools will set you apart:
– Articulate 360 (Storyline, Rise) 
– Camtasia or Vyond for video-based learning 
– Canva for visual design 
– Google Slides / PowerPoint (storyboarding) 
– LMS platforms like Moodle or TalentLMS
<h2>
Step 5 – Network Like Your Career Depends On It (Because It Does)</h2>
Join ID communities:
– LinkedIn groups for instructional designers 
– Slack groups like IDLance or ID Assembly 
– Attend webinars and free live sessions (many from ID Mentors)
<h2>Step 6 – Start Applying Smartly (And Realistically)</h2>
Don’t wait for the “perfect” job. Start with internships, freelance gigs, or contract-based roles. Look for: 
– eLearning developers 
– content developers 
– instructional design freshers 
– Learning consultants
Bonus: Learn to Receive Feedback Gracefully
Instructional design is iterative. You’ll work closely with SMEs, stakeholders, reviewers—each with their own opinion.
<h2>Final Thoughts</h2>
Breaking into instructional design after graduation might feel like you’re starting from scratch—but you’re not. You already bring communication, research, and empathy skills from your degree. Pair that with the right guidance, portfolio, and mindset—and you’re on your way to a fulfilling ID career.
The post <a href="https://purnima-valiathan.com/kickstart-career-in-instructional-design-after-graduation/">How to Kickstart a Career in Instructional Design After Graduation</a> appeared first on <a href="https://purnima-valiathan.com">ID Mentors</a>.
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<title>Beyond the Certificate: What Budding Instructional Designers Really Need</title>
<link>https://purnima-valiathan.com/beyond-the-certificate-what-budding-instructional-designers-really-need/</link>
<comments>https://purnima-valiathan.com/beyond-the-certificate-what-budding-instructional-designers-really-need/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Purnima Valiathan]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 May 2025 16:54:39 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Courses]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://purnima-valiathan.com/?p=62822</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Harsh Truth No One Tells You After Your ID Course You’ve completed your Instructional Design course. Maybe even two. …
The post <a href="https://purnima-valiathan.com/beyond-the-certificate-what-budding-instructional-designers-really-need/">Beyond the Certificate: What Budding Instructional Designers Really Need</a> appeared first on <a href="https://purnima-valiathan.com">ID Mentors</a>.
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2>The Harsh Truth No One Tells You After Your ID Course</h2>
You’ve completed your Instructional Design course. Maybe even two. You’ve got the certificate. Your resume looks decent. But somehow, every job interview feels like a dead-end.
You’re asked:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Walk me through a learning solution you designed. 
</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">How do you handle feedback from ID reviewers and stakeholders? </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">How do you work with a SME to make their tacit knowledge explicit?</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">How will you avoid scope creep in a project?</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">How do you think teaching or training is different from instructional design?</li>
</ul>
That’s when it hits you: You learned about instructional design. But you haven’t practiced it in real-world scenarios.
<h3>Introducing the ID Mentors Subscription – For the Real Journey Ahead</h3>
ID Mentors by Purnima Valiathan isn’t just another learning portal. It’s a continuous learning community — built for doers, not just learners.
The new ID Mentors Subscription Plan is designed to support you beyond the certificate, in three powerful ways:
<h4><img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/16.0.1/72x72/2705.png" alt="✅" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> 1. Prepare for Job Interviews</h4>
You’ll get:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Real-world scenarios to build your portfolio</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Practice prompts and feedback on your responses</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Confidence in handling SME objections, learning strategy questions, and assessment logic</li>
</ul>
This isn’t theoretical. It’s mentorship for real interview readiness.
<h4><img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/16.0.1/72x72/2705.png" alt="✅" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> 2. Upskill Yourself in the Flow of Work</h4>
Are you already in an ID role? Great — because this subscription becomes your backstage pass. Weekly sessions, feedback channels, and a thriving community help you stay sharp and innovate on the go.
<h4><img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/16.0.1/72x72/2705.png" alt="✅" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> 3. Mentorship On-Demand</h4>
You don’t need to wait for another course. When you get stuck on a module or need advice on structuring your next project — the ID Mentors community is your go-to.
<h2>Who This Is Perfect For</h2>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/16.0.1/72x72/1f393.png" alt="🎓" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> Newcomers looking to land their first ID role</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/16.0.1/72x72/1f504.png" alt="🔄" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> Career switchers unsure how to translate their skills</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/16.0.1/72x72/1f4bc.png" alt="💼" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> Working professionals seeking feedback on actual work</li>
</ul>
<img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/16.0.1/72x72/1f469-200d-1f3eb.png" alt="👩‍🏫" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> Team leads trying to mentor others but feeling the gap 

<h3>A Real Learner’s Take</h3>
“After finishing a 3-month ID course, I still struggled with storyboarding and understanding how to translate a learning goal into a visual format. The ID Mentors subscription helped me break this down with real projects. I finally felt like I was doing instructional design, not just reading about it.” 
 — Ananya, aspiring ID from Bangalore
<h3>Final Thoughts</h3>
Courses are great to start. But to become an instructional designer — confident, credible, and in-demand — you need more.
That’s where the ID Mentors Subscription Plan comes in.
It’s not just what you learn — it’s when and how you use it.
The post <a href="https://purnima-valiathan.com/beyond-the-certificate-what-budding-instructional-designers-really-need/">Beyond the Certificate: What Budding Instructional Designers Really Need</a> appeared first on <a href="https://purnima-valiathan.com">ID Mentors</a>.
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</item>
<item>
<title>Learning When You Need It: The Secret Weapon of Great Instructional Designers</title>
<link>https://purnima-valiathan.com/secret-weapon-instructional-designers-learning-course/</link>
<comments>https://purnima-valiathan.com/secret-weapon-instructional-designers-learning-course/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Purnima Valiathan]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 01 May 2025 16:29:39 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://purnima-valiathan.com/?p=62820</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Real Talk: Most Instructional Designers Learn on the Job Let’s be honest. You can sit through hours of instructional design …
The post <a href="https://purnima-valiathan.com/secret-weapon-instructional-designers-learning-course/">Learning When You Need It: The Secret Weapon of Great Instructional Designers</a> appeared first on <a href="https://purnima-valiathan.com">ID Mentors</a>.
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2>Real Talk: Most Instructional Designers Learn on the Job</h2>
Let’s be honest. You can sit through hours of instructional design theory — ADDIE, Bloom’s Taxonomy, SAM — and still panic when your client says:
“Can we make this more engaging?”
Or worse: 
 “This training didn’t work — what’s your backup plan?”
That’s because real-world instructional design doesn’t come with a perfect checklist. It’s messy. Collaborative. Fast-paced. And often… unpredictable.
<h2>Enter the Moment of Need</h2>
You don’t need to “go back to a course” every time you hit a wall.
You need help in that moment.
That’s exactly why <a href="https://purnima-valiathan.com/">Purnima Valiathan’s ID Mentors Subscription Plan</a> exists.
It’s your on-demand support system for those real-time ID challenges.
<h3>What Makes It Different</h3>
Unlike static courses or one-off workshops, the subscription model is designed to adapt to your project life cycle. Here’s how:
<h4><img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/16.0.1/72x72/1f527.png" alt="🔧" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> Just-in-Time Learning</h4>
Working on a project? Need help with a learning objective or prototype? Get real answers from experienced mentors who’ve been there.
<h4><img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/16.0.1/72x72/1f9d1-200d-1f3eb.png" alt="🧑‍🏫" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> Mentorship That Scales</h4>
Whether you’re a solo ID or managing a team, use the sessions and tools to upskill continuously. Mentorship shouldn’t stop after onboarding.
<h4><img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/16.0.1/72x72/1f5c2.png" alt="🗂" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> Templates, Toolkits, Feedback</h4>
Access a growing library of practical resources — storyboarding formats, needs analysis templates, quiz logic checklists, and more.
<h3>Real Moments, Real Help – Key Ingredient of Great Instructional Design Course</h3>
Imagine this:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">You’re building a compliance module and your stakeholder wants “gamification.” What does that even mean here?
</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">You’ve created an assessment, but you’re unsure if it aligns with the objectives.
</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">You’re mentoring a junior ID and they’ve hit a wall with branching logic.
</li>
</ul>
In each of these cases, the ID Mentors Subscription has you covered — with real-time answers, examples, and guidance.
<h3>Who Should Consider This?</h3>
If you’ve ever:
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Googled “how to storyboard an eLearning module” mid-project
</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Spent hours reworking assessments because they “don’t work”
</li>
</ul>
Struggled to answer interview questions about your design decisions 
 … then this subscription is built for you. 

<h3>Why Wait for a Crisis?</h3>
Great instructional designers don’t have all the answers — they just know where to look when they need them.
With ID Mentors Subscription, you don’t learn alone. You learn as you work, with a mentor by your side.
The post <a href="https://purnima-valiathan.com/secret-weapon-instructional-designers-learning-course/">Learning When You Need It: The Secret Weapon of Great Instructional Designers</a> appeared first on <a href="https://purnima-valiathan.com">ID Mentors</a>.
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</item>
<item>
<title>Personalized Learning</title>
<link>https://purnima-valiathan.com/personalized-learning/</link>
<comments>https://purnima-valiathan.com/personalized-learning/#respond</comments>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Purnima Valiathan]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 16 Oct 2023 07:14:09 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Knowledge Sharing]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[adaptive learning]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[avatar]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[intelligent tutoring]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[learning management system]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[personalization]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[personalized learning]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://purnima-valiathan.com/?p=58692</guid>
<description><![CDATA[What is personalized learning? Simply put, a school student taking private tuition outside of school is personalized learning. When parents …
The post <a href="https://purnima-valiathan.com/personalized-learning/">Personalized Learning</a> appeared first on <a href="https://purnima-valiathan.com">ID Mentors</a>.
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h4>What is personalized learning?</h4>
Simply put, a school student taking private tuition outside of school is personalized learning. When parents sit with their children and help them learn a tough concept using a trick or tip they learnt in their childhood, such as an analogy or a mnemonic is also personalized learning. In addition, when an experienced surgeon performs a surgery and students observe how she wields a scalpel with precision, and the expertise with which she makes an incision is personalized learning too. Now to extrapolate that to the digital learning world, self-paced, responsive, and adaptive learning nuggets that address the unique needs of the target learner is also personalized learning.
 
 
 
 
 
<hr class="divider clear" />
<h4></h4>
<h4></h4>
<h4></h4>
<h4>What is the significance of personalized learning?</h4>
While we all go through systematic and established learning curriculum in schools and colleges, many of us may think, “wish this was explained to me in a better way”, or “how does everyone understand this, and I just can’t”? However, as is with structured education, it is not always possible for teachers to cater to the specific needs of each student in the class. Now, with advancement in technology and awareness of specific learning needs, things are changing fast to provide customized learning to whoever may want it. Personalized learning has been in vogue for decades now, though it has not been discussed as much until recently.
Benjamin Bloom’s Paper (The 2 Sigma Problem, 1984) compared lecture, lecture with feedback, and one-to-one tuition, and what he found was an 84% increase in mastery for the lecture with feedback approach and 98% increase in mastery for one-to-one tuition. From this simple yet effective data, you can understand how effective personalized learning is.
 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-58698" src="https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/bloom_six-sigma.png" alt="" width="487" height="340" srcset="https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/bloom_six-sigma.png 914w, https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/bloom_six-sigma-460x321.png 460w, https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/bloom_six-sigma-150x105.png 150w, https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/bloom_six-sigma-768x536.png 768w, https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/bloom_six-sigma-300x209.png 300w, https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/bloom_six-sigma-120x84.png 120w, https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/bloom_six-sigma-310x216.png 310w" sizes="(max-width: 487px) 100vw, 487px" />
 
<hr class="divider clear" />
<h4>How is personalized learning rendered?</h4>
Personalized learning can take many forms such as, using examples that go well with the assigned learner group and helps them understand the content better, or using specific formats to target a specific group of learners to aid assimilation of learning, or using learning strategies or technology that resonates well with the target audience. Personalization can range from simple to complex as can be seen in the figure below.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-58699 size-full" src="https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/PL_Continuum-e1697606658404.png" alt="" width="668" height="546" />
Responsive
<ul>
<li>Interface: Learners customize learning experience by choosing colors and/or avatars.</li>
<li>Learning Management: Learners can select a specific learning path or create curated learning experiences through software application platforms, such as learning management systems (LMS) and learning experience platforms (LXPs).</li>
<li>Learning Analytics: Software applications integrated with LMSs, which prompt learners to go through content based on their proficiency level in a specific subject or domain.</li>
</ul>
Adaptive
<ul>
<li>Adaptive learning: Software applications that use machine learning to adapt to learner needs and competencies in a specific subject or domain.</li>
<li>Intelligent Tutoring Systems: Software applications that provide immediate and customized instruction or feedback to learners, usually without requiring intervention from a human teacher or facilitator.</li>
</ul>
 
<div class="notification other" style="background-color:#97d8df;border-color:#97d8df;">
<div class="notepad" style="color:#000000;border-color:{{bordercolor}};"> NOTE:
“Adaptive systems aim to functionally mirror and support the learning process, which is a flexible and changing, rather than fixed, process. Responsive systems are more limited, essentially offering an interface to predetermined content, like a hyper-linked menu or a series of digital buttons.”
SOURCE: <a href="https://datasociety.net/pubs/ecl/PersonalizedLearning_primer_2016.pdf">Personalized Learning: The Conversations We’re Not Having by Monica Bulger</a> </div></div>
 
<hr class="divider clear" />
 
<h4>Real-world applications of personalized learning</h4>
Select a tab to view the example. 
 
<div id="vibe-tabs-13" class="tabs tabbable dark"><ul class="nav nav-tabs clearfix"><li><a href="#tab-566643974-621">Example 1</a></li><li><a href="#tab-3404854789-621">Example 2</a></li><li><a href="#tab-624139579-621">Example 3</a></li><li><a href="#tab-3354363458-621">Example 4</a></li><li><a href="#tab-674098556-621">Example 5</a></li></ul><div class="tab-content"> <div id="tab-566643974-621" class="tab-pane">
<h5>Personalization through Gamification</h5>
Air Methods provides air transportation to move patients to and from healthcare facilities and accident scenes. Air Methods personnel provide comprehensive pre-hospital and emergency and critical care to all types of patients during aero-medical evacuation or rescue operations aboard helicopter and propeller aircraft or jet aircraft. Air Methods with Sim X, a virtual reality firm, has developed a library of advanced clinical scenarios designed on a platform where multiple players work together to treat patients in the virtual environment. Air Methods has also developed an escape room* with a mix of clinical knowledge, pop-culture, and sleuthing to create an interactive learning experience. Each step of patient care, such as accessing medications or locating lab values, requires the team to solve the previous clues. Three groups are pitted against each other each day to see who can figure out the patient’s condition and provide the most appropriate care in the shortest amount of time.
<a data-rel="tooltip" class="tip" data-placement="top" data-original-title="An escape room is an organized form of problem-based learning that uses aspects of the curriculum within the context of an engaging scenario or theme. It has a series of puzzles that a group has to solve within a limited time period. So, the learning theme over here focuses on learner interest and is socially embedded, as a group will work on it together. It uses virtual reality to help learners learn the content better. The strategy also ensures learners have fun while learning, as gamification has been applied in the form of escape rooms. "> *Escape Room </a>
 
SOURCE: <a href="https://www.seriousgamemarket.com/2021/05/how-serious-games-are-changing-air.html">How Serious Games Are Changing Air Medical Education by Eliane Alhadeff</a>
</div> <div id="tab-3404854789-621" class="tab-pane">
<h5>Personalization through Mentoring</h5>
LaSalle Network is a national staffing, recruiting and culture firm with business units that specialize in accounting and finance, administrative, call center, healthcare revenue cycle, human resources, management resources, marketing, sales, supply chain, technology and executive search. Employees at this company participate in what is known as “grandfathering”. In this activity, managers mentor workers under their direct reports. They reinforce lessons by getting these employees to watch 3–4-minute videos at least 5 times, and by addressing their doubts and queries. Also, LaSalle’s 150 employees are regularly asked what weak spots they want to strengthen and what skills they want to acquire. These questions are not only asked by HR—everyone from managers and mentors to the training team and even the CEO pose the questions to employees at every level of the company. In one instance, when an employee mentioned to the company CEO that he wanted to eventually work in operations, the CEO coordinated with HR and made sure the employee works under the COO for a few weeks. This kind of mentoring, or grandfathering, is a commitment at the organization level. The learning themes that we can see in this case are learner needs, learner interests, learner ownership, and it is socially embedded. In this example, mentoring is used as a strategy to personalize learning.
SOURCE: <a href="https://www.shrm.org/hr-today/news/hr-magazine/0517/pages/a-personalized-approach-to-corporate-learning.aspx">A </a><a href="https://www.shrm.org/hr-today/news/hr-magazine/0517/pages/a-personalized-approach-to-corporate-learning.aspx">Personalized </a><a href="https://www.shrm.org/hr-today/news/hr-magazine/0517/pages/a-personalized-approach-to-corporate-learning.aspx">Approach to Corporate Learning by Kate Rockwood</a>
 
</div> <div id="tab-624139579-621" class="tab-pane">
<h5>Personalization through Feedback</h5>
Next College Student Athlete is a Chicago-based company that helps high schoolers win collegiate athletic scholarships. The Training team at this company uses a unique strategy for training – put the employee in the spotlight. The employees are video-recorded when they make a sales pitch. The videos are then analyzed to give specific feedback to the employees, and they are helped to identify areas that need refinement. The company has found this training technique rather effective. As the Head of HR says – “the employees tend to be fully engaged because they’re the stars of the sessions.” The learning theme out here is focusing on learner needs, learner ownership, and is socially embedded. This is an example of personalized learning where learners are not consumers but producers of content. This strategy also showcases mentoring at a different level. As you can see through this example, personalized learning is an ongoing process. It is NOT a one-time solution/intervention. Creating a plan, and working as per the plan is important.
SOURCE: <a href="https://www.shrm.org/hr-today/news/hr-magazine/0517/pages/a-personalized-approach-to-corporate-learning.aspx">A </a><a href="https://www.shrm.org/hr-today/news/hr-magazine/0517/pages/a-personalized-approach-to-corporate-learning.aspx">Personalized </a><a href="https://www.shrm.org/hr-today/news/hr-magazine/0517/pages/a-personalized-approach-to-corporate-learning.aspx">Approach to Corporate Learning by Kate Rockwood</a>
 
</div> <div id="tab-3354363458-621" class="tab-pane">
<h5>Personalization through adaptive learning</h5>
Duolingo, the language learning app, applies the concept of spaced repetition for language learning. The app adapts to each learner’s level of language proficiency by presenting content in different interactive ways. Learners get automated real-time feedback on these interactive speech and grammar exercises. The app users collectively complete millions of exercises on the platform every day and it tracks every word that the learner sees, uses and practices in varied contexts. This data is captured and analyzed using machine learning (ML) algorithms.
 
</div> <div id="tab-674098556-621" class="tab-pane">
<h5>Personalization through Intelligent Tutoring</h5>
Soar Training Expert for Virtual Environments or STEVE is an intelligent tutoring system developed by the University of South California (USC). It was originally applied to equipment operation and maintenance training on board a virtual ship. This system is designed to train and mentor learners to operate complicated machinery. Through virtual reality a three-dimensional, simulated mock-up of a work environment is created, where STEVE, the virtual facilitator guides learners to complete tasks by demonstrating procedures, responding to learner queries and monitoring learner performance. This solution is an integration of intelligent tutoring systems, computer graphics and agent architectures. This system can also train learners on completing team tasks, because the system is built to support multiple STEVE agents and multiple students.
SOURCE: <a href="https://www.isi.edu/isd/VET/vet.html">STEVE</a><a href="https://www.isi.edu/isd/VET/vet.html">– A Pedagogical Agent for Virtual Reality</a>
</div> </div></div>
 
 
The post <a href="https://purnima-valiathan.com/personalized-learning/">Personalized Learning</a> appeared first on <a href="https://purnima-valiathan.com">ID Mentors</a>.
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<item>
<title>An Instructional Design Checklist! Yes. Another One!</title>
<link>https://purnima-valiathan.com/an-instructional-design-checklist-yes-another-one/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Purnima Valiathan]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 05 May 2022 03:36:00 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[Content Development Process]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Knowledge Sharing]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[instructional design checklist]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://purnima-valiathan.com/?p=56850</guid>
<description><![CDATA[  Is your ID training addressing these Do’s and Don’ts? If yes, then how? Do you address it as an …
The post <a href="https://purnima-valiathan.com/an-instructional-design-checklist-yes-another-one/">An Instructional Design Checklist! Yes. Another One!</a> appeared first on <a href="https://purnima-valiathan.com">ID Mentors</a>.
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[ 
<blockquote>
Is your ID training addressing these Do’s and Don’ts? If yes, then how? Do you address it as an Instructional Design checklist (as attached below), or through practice and feedback? A checklist is the lowest form of a job-aid meant for tasks that are mostly mechanical & physical. Designing instruction is a cognitive task that requires higher-order thinking skills. The training for this must be designed to help you develop several skills and competencies, which is best addressed through a blend of self-paced online courses, facilitated sessions, and assignments that are reviewed by ID experts. However, even this is just a dip into shallow waters – to excel at instructional design you need to work on varied projects with unique demands for at least A YEAR UNDER A GOOD MENTOR.
</blockquote>
 
Download the checklist here; but also find a mentor:
<a href="https://purnima-valiathan.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/ID_Dos_Donts.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dos and Don’ts for instructional designers</a>
 
The post <a href="https://purnima-valiathan.com/an-instructional-design-checklist-yes-another-one/">An Instructional Design Checklist! Yes. Another One!</a> appeared first on <a href="https://purnima-valiathan.com">ID Mentors</a>.
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